"It's an interesting question that provokes a response that kids enjoy," said Nacht, who started the contest in his son's school. "It's something they really like. It's something they relate to."

Every year, Nacht reads about 60 essays and is always surprised by students' arguments. Girls usually see themselves in protective roles and want to become seatbelts or they express their interest in the outside world by dreaming of becoming windows. Boys want to become engines to play a leading role, he said.

And sometimes, the essays offer revealing peeks into the lives and minds of today's children.

"When I first came to [my teacher's] class, I felt disappointed in myself...so if I was a part of a car I would be the GPS," wrote contest-winner Mike Khafizov, 10, of Borough Park, who attended Public School 131.

"The GPS is a part of a car that guides you if you are lost," he wrote in his winning essay, for which he got a $50 savings bond from Nacht. "The work is not too hard; you just have to see what is in front of you."

Mike was one of four fifth-graders Nacht rewarded with savings bonds for their creative essays.

Another winner, Hailey Diaz from PS 164, wrote that she sees herself as a glove compartment, which is next to one of her best friends - "Mr. Radio."

"Put your cell phone in me so there are no accidents or tickets along the way," she wrote.

Andy Zheng of PS 160 said he would have a "wonderful job as a headlight....I can save lives while helping out other drivers."

Besides looking at the grammar, punctuation, clarity and compelling arguments, Nacht also values humor. He said that the funniest essay was from a boy who last year wrote he didn't want to be the seat "because it's the smelliest part of the car."

"Kids are kids no matter what part of the world they come from," said Nacht. "Maybe it's the analogy of the car that brings it all together."